A 10-year-old boy has died of Lassa fever in Ebonyi State. The death is the second confirmed case recorded in the state since the recent outbreak across the country.


The state’s commissioner for Health, Daniel Umezuruike, confirmed the death. He said the victim died after he was discharged from the Federal Teaching Hospital Abakaliki.

Dr. Umezuruike said the deceased’s parents were based in Abuja, but that the report before them did not show that the deceased traveled to meet with his parents in recent times. He also explained that the 10-year-old was not rushed to the hospital immediately he became sick.

According to him the deceased responded to treatment at first and as such, the hospital discharged him.

"But unfortunately, he died the same day he was discharged. His case was surprising because the hospital thought he was all right after being treated, but before he was discharged we had already taken his sample which came out positive," he said.